Harvard Softball Topples Providence, 8-2

Recap, photo is courtesy of Harvard University

Sarah Smith pitched four hitless innings in relief Thursday (Fran Ruchalski).
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Harvard softball (21-14) pounded out 14 hits, while pitchers Taylor Cabe and Sarah Smith limited Providence (16-23) to just three, cruising to an 8-2 victory Thursday evening at Glay Stadium.

Cabe earned the victory to improve to 12-3 on the year, tossing the first three innings. Smith then came on in relief and threw four hitless innings. Both pitchers recorded two strikeouts.

Five Harvard hitters notched at least two hits with lead-off batter Rhianna Rich leading the way with
a 3-for-4 day with three runs scored and a RBI. Meagan Lantz and Haley Davis each had two hits with two RBI, while Giana Panariello and Kaitlyn Schiffhauer also had two hits.

Harvard got off to a quick start with three runs in the opening frame. The Crimson loaded the bases with singles by Rich and Zoe Galindo, as well as a walk by Lantz. Panariello brought home Rich with a single back up the middle for the first run. Two batters later, Davis ripped a shot to center that plated two of her teammates.

Providence got one run back in the bottom of the first, but Harvard responded with two more runs in both the second and third. Back-to-back doubles by Schiffhauer and Rich led to the first run in the second, while the third double in the inning by Lantz a couple batters later drove in the second run.

The doubles kept coming in the third with Savannah Bradley a shot to left field that scored Davis. A wild pitch as the inning progressed allowed Bradley to cross home plate.

The Friars scored their second run in the bottom of the third, but Harvard still held a 7-2 advantage. With Smith shutting down the Providence offense over the remainder of the game, the final run of the day came in the top of the sixth when Lantz's double to left center brought home Rich.

Harvard is back in action this weekend at Soldiers Field for a four-game series against Brown.